{
  "abstract": "Potassium (K) deficiency is a widespread constraint on maize production, yet how it influences the suberized apoplastic barriers that control radial K transport in roots, and whether the endodermis and the constitutively suberized exodermis respond differently, has remained unclear. We grew maize under K deficiency in soil and across a hydroponic K gradient, with abscisic acid (ABA) and fluridone treatments, and analysed seminal roots by Fluorol Yellow 088 staining, tissue-resolved suberin chemistry of endodermis and exodermis, rubidium (Rb) flux, and RNA-sequencing with weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). K deficiency selectively increased endodermal aliphatic suberin and eliminated endodermal passage cells in soil-grown roots, whereas exodermal suberin was unchanged. Although K influx remained high, root-to-shoot Rb translocation fell sharply, consistent with K retention. A single co-expression module linked the suberin-biosynthetic genes with several K transport genes, and the suberin programme responded to exogenous ABA, indicating ABA-dependent co-regulation. Soil and hydroponic systems converged on the same endodermis-specific anatomical response. Endodermal, but not exodermal, barrier reinforcement limits K leakage from the stele in maize roots. This tissue-specific plasticity identifies the endodermal suberin biosynthesis programme, and its coordination with K uptake, as a target for improving K use efficiency.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Wageningen University & Research"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "T. Liu"
    },
    {
      "name": "K. Dittert"
    },
    {
      "name": "I. Cakmak"
    },
    {
      "name": "J. Gerendas"
    },
    {
      "name": "P. Grunhofer"
    },
    {
      "name": "V. Zeisler-Diehl"
    },
    {
      "name": "L. Schreiber"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "T. Kreszies"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/36e9gt3y0nf0k.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.09.21.753126",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.21.753126v1.full",
  "id": "36e9gt3y0nf0k",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.21.753126v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "plant biology"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1110|Plant nutrient uptake and metabolism"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7214126881",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.21.753126v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-21",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/36e9gt3y0nf0k.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:24:09Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.09.21.753126",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.21.753126v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "biorxiv:plant biology",
      "subfield": "plant-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Potassium deficiency reinforces the endodermal but not the exodermal suberized barrier in maize seminal roots",
  "title_text": "Potassium deficiency reinforces the endodermal but not the exodermal suberized barrier in maize seminal roots",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:24:09Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/36e9gt3y0nf0k",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}